Copyright

Watercolor

10/22/2014

Well, that was a break. It was a bit longer than I expected. We are still adjusting to life with a teenager, a teenager who lives with autism. There are some definite, heavy challenges and new things to learn about disability services and insurance and meeting the needs of our kiddo, as well as planning for his future. We want it to be as bright as it can be. I have met some very compassionate people along this journey and that makes a big difference.

But I have learned life doesn't stop, soooo it's as good a time as any to get back into the blogging swing of things. Open Studio Hartford is in a few weeks and I have got to get rolling. I started a new bird painting-fingers crossed that it works out!

Also, fellow artist, Stefanie Marco Lantz recently founded an artist group: WEHA Artists Emporium! My friend Julie is also a founding member. It's been great fun and quite inspiring to be a member of this group. I am so glad they asked!

Well it's back to the paper, water and paint. Thanks for stopping by; it's great to be back!

Wow, sometimes I don't think I even have a creative process. Time for painting is comprised of short, stolen moments- more stops and starts punctuated by innumerable interruptions. Somehow the school nurse always calls the mother. Why is that? I have all kinds of fantasies of being surrounded by fragrant tea, paint, and paper in my sun-filled spacious studio. I dream about working from sunup to sundown and being interrupted by only by interruptions of my choosing.

I look on with a mixture of awe and envy at other artists who are also mothers who manage to get it done, to get up before dawn to create, to keep true to themselves, to know what their goals are. I know it isn't all seamless for them either, but it does seem that they have things a bit more "together". So I practice getting things done in snatches. I sketch and read and find inspiration whenever and wherever I can. I try to relax more when I am painting instead of waiting for that next phone call or knock at the door. When the call does come, I take a super duper deep breath. I get a lot of oxygen that way. I try getting up earlier in the morning, despite my night owl nature. Some days it works out and other times not so much. It is good to know it's not my fault that I am a night owl. Apparently, it's my brain structure.

It seems that I am in the process of making peace with my creative process-as raggedy as it seems. I am pleased that I am learning to create decent work in snatches. That is one beautiful thing about watercolor. I am learning to be even more organized. Sometimes I forget that I achieve a fair amount only because the to-do's are so many. I am learning to take autism in a little more stride-most days. I am learning to not take on other people's emotions as my own. I am learning that it isn't helpful to compare my beginning with someone else's middle or end. This is an especially challenging lesson. I am thankful for my little closet that is my studio-that I have a place of retreat, a place to work when I can't work at home. I am thankful that I have other artist mothers to look to and learn from as they forge their own trails. I am thankful for people who enjoy and are touched by my work. So finding my creative process is a process in and of itself and maybe, just maybe, that's the point.

How do you get comfortable with your creative process or are you already there?

02/15/2013

January and February have been very full and exciting months. Due to the generosity of The Aetna, Cynthia, and Artists in Real Time, I hung my first solo art show! Squee! Cynthia, the marvelous coordinator of Hartford's Open Studio Weekend, invited me to exhibit at The Aetna's gallery. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity! It is a splendid thing that The Aetna provides such an amazing opportunity for artists to exhibit their work.

My work will remain at The Aetna for the entire month of February. At the end of the show, I'll attend a "meet and greet" where I'll be talking to folks about my art and fun things in general. It's always fun to meet people and learn about their interests. So far gallery visitors have enjoyed the show so it will be great to talk to them in person.

I better get back to my work, but I wanted to share some of the completed pieces that are being exhibited right now.

Hulled

Seconds

The Workday Begins

and finally Plimoth Kitchen

Have a great weekend. I hope it is filled with lots of relaxation and time to create !

10/01/2012

Whew! what a whirlwind. I have been trying to find my rhythm lately or as Amanda wisely put it, "let the rhythm find me". It's slow going, but I think I see something approaching a rhythm coming at me.

We are in the midst of acclimating to middle school-things are going very well and Doran's teacher is simply awesome. Eden loves her preschool. Helena and Elijah seem to be feeling fine about third grade, although there is some question of whether the spelling homework is effective. Nutcracker Season has definitely started (and with a fundraiser too).

Hmm, so we are having a bit of the fall autism nerves/anxiety-happens every year. This makes for late nights and some impulsive behaviors. I think (hope) we are starting to come down from it. Elijah is enjoying his weekend robot class. Helena is rehearsing (already) and selling pies, plants, cookie dough and ads. She definitely enjoys all of that. This is good thing because mama is not the one. Also, since it is her gig, I think she should be mostly responsible for it while Greg and I help when needed.

I have been painting - a lot. I have been painting while Eden is at school and when I can squeeze some time in on the weekends. Some paintings I like and some look a little craptastic. I am trying to quiet my mind as I paint. It helps to have a quiet mind if you want to be creative. I am imagining some new things to make for the November Open Studio, while trying simultaneously not to freak out (you know the whole quiet mind thing). There are thoughts of moving this blog to Wordpress, selling on line and breathing life into some creative sparks. There are a lot of ideas swirling and crashing around in my head, as I try to remember to make dinner, attend meetings, make sure people have clean underwear (including moi) and pay attention to my family.

There are thoughts of Christmas and the need to adjust some of the making to conform to the new ryhthm(?) around here. I am in the Knitting (and Blogging) Hall o' Shame lately. You don't even want to know how long I took to finish a thumb for a mitt. Here's a hint; I am almost done-just shameful.

But in better news, here's a painting I like.

What have you been up to lately? Oh and before I take off to catch up with this day, I wanted to let those of you who asked, I am writing up a post about the psychic table. It involves spirits, intution and green. It was very intriguing. Thanks for your interest and questions.

I wish you an awesome Monday and that it gives you a gentle start to the week!

09/06/2012

Unbelievable where the time has gone. . . . Summer was good but not exactly what I had planned. There was much time spent painting in the studio-halleluyer for that! I'll be sharing what I made I haven't scanned them yet so it's slightly fuzzy pics for now).

Greg took on painting all of the bedrooms and he installed a new floor for our back porch. Oh it is so much better. The floor used to be covered with the grossest outdoor/indoor carpet you have ever seen or tried to walk across. I should have taken pictures of it. Now we need to paint the porch to our liking. Hmm what else? Doran has been making up rhyming words and poetry. Eden has been carting around her invisible friend, Ardold (this is the best spelling of the name I can muster). Helena has been dancing at ballet camp and is gearing up for her ballet classes and The Nutcracker. I am in disbelief that rehearsals start in three, count 'em, three weeks! Elijah has been building and programming his robot (it was expensive but so worth it; thanks for pitching in Mom!). That thing can really get going. It reminds me of those horror films when toys come alive and chase people in the dark.

So now it's time to adjust to a new studio, school and activity schedule, to put a few tomatoes by, start those Christmas projects and get back to my long-neglected knitting.

It's so good to be back in this space and I will be stopping by to visit you too.

07/02/2012

We are back to "normal"-well mostly. It feels good to be back in this space and starting my summer. I sure did miss everyone! Thanks for your understanding and sweet comments. I hope everyone is settling into summer and getting some relaxation. We are trying out new recipes, chores for the kiddos (it turns out Elijah likes mopping the floor), and taking advantage of opportunities to create-basic day to day stuff. I still envision a relaxing summer filled with knitting, Christmas gift-making, reading, and more time in my studio.

Speaking of art, I've been toying with new-to-me ideas and inspiration-thinking about color a lot. Here's my latest:

06/01/2012

Thank you all so very much for your beautiful compliments on my sketchbook last week. You all make me stand a little straighter and feel a little braver. Thank you.

I completed this commission about a week ago. Commissions always tend to stress me out a bit as I am sure they do for most artists. The patron wanted me to interpret a special place in Vermont for her. She used to rent a carriage house there quite often. In doing so, she became close to the mistress of the premises-an unlikely friendship, but a strong and beautiful one. Her dog passed away while she was there one season and is buried on the property. She never returned to the carriage house after that loss. Of course this place holds many dear memories. So taking this information, some photographs and directions to use a Monet-inspired palette, I made several studies trying out all kinds of ideas and compositions. Finally I made this painting.

I always see the mistakes, but she was very happy and touched and for that I am humbled and grateful.

What challenges are you taking on lately?

The painting is too large to fit on any home scanner, so please excuse the fuzziness. Can you spot the two dogs?

Have a wonderful weekend my friends. And again thank you all for your incredible support and kindness.

05/18/2012

A peek at my sketchbook. . . I need to start drawing and painting more so I'll be sharing my sketchbook pages in whatever state they are in at the moment, finished or unfinished. It's unfinished this week. I am hoping this will get more drawing more. Practice, practice, practice. What are you practicing lately?